I need a new winter rod

[Charles Sullivan]

Well, I blew my forecast 14/9 up today. The male portion of the bottom piece blew up. I don't want another forecast but I'd like to still use my Rio windcutter 9/10/11. I will probably build my own. Any suggestions?
The day turned better later when I landed a chrome hen on my 11-6 6/7 forecast. That was a hoot. I really like that rod. I got home and the Red Sox finished of Texas 3-2.
cds

[FLGator]

Here are two blanks I'd recommend if you are intent on keeping the WC 9/10/11:

Meiser MKS 13689
Burkheimer 9143

Take care,
Chris

[Chris DeLeone]

I second the Burkie 9143-3, My dog jumped in the truck and just broke mine last time out. That is a wonderful winter rod.

Chris

[fredaevans]

I second the Burkie 9143-3, My dog jumped in the truck and just broke mine last time out. That is a wonderful winter rod.

Chris

God can I relate! "Sandy's" gotten to mine TWICE! My own fault, but 85+ pounds of Yellow Lab can do "wonders" to a 3 piece spey rod.:rofl:

[James Mello]

Anglers workshop may be having some sales on the last of the Sage 9141's. Bomber rod, and fits with WC 9/10/11 like peas and carrots. You may want to talk to them... Beulah also has a pretty good 13'6" 8/9 that should match that line well.

[Rob Zelk]

How about a GLX Dredger? 13' 9" 8/9, line included. $510. By the time you finish building a rod the season will be over so you might as well just buy this one. ;) But really, its a great deal for a great rod with one year of usage. And with the Loomis warranty, it will be with you forever. Since I live so close, I will deliver aswell.

Good fishing,

Rob Z.

[SSPey]

if your Windcutter is the tips version, then you can expand your options even more by stepping down a lighter rod (like the Burkie 8139, MKS 13'6" 7/8, etc) and swapping out the 15' Tip 2 of your Windcutter with 7-10' of level 10 or 11 wt. Or buy a 10' cheater. This would make a slightly shorter line with the correct grains for an 8 wt. I use 5 or 6 different lines on my Burkie 8139, and this is one of them.

[Charles Sullivan]

Rob,
I'm sure that is a great rod, I would like to build this one up.
Thanks for the info guys. I'll start pricing those blanks. This is really gonna put a good dent in the boat fund. :beathead: On the other hand I can upgrade.:beer2:
If there is one good thing to come out of this, it is that I am confident that my 6/7 can handle a hot winter fish.
cds

[Charles Sullivan]

Allright, I can't seem to find anyone on-line that sells the Burkheimer blanks- any help? I am just pricing them right now.
Also, has anyone built up the Beulah 13' 8/9? any thoughts?

Go Sox,
cds

[FLGator]

Give Kerry Burkheimer a call directly at his shop (360) 835-1420.

Know they'll be able to answer all of your questions!

[James Mello]

Allright, I can't seem to find anyone on-line that sells the Burkheimer blanks- any help? I am just pricing them right now.
Also, has anyone built up the Beulah 13' 8/9? any thoughts?

Go Sox,
cds

There is a 13' 6" 8/9 and a 13' 9/10... Which are you referring to? :)

[Kevin Giusti]

I dont think you could go wrong with any of the above rods mentioned. Im kinda new to spey casting but just ordered a 13678 mks from Meiser with winter fishing in mind. I have a couple of Beulah rods and really like them and the people there are great to work with. I see you mentioned that you want to build the rod. Meiser has some great deals on rod building packages. If you send him an email he would probably contact you and if you let him know what you want the rod for and your casting style and such he could probably hook you up with the right rod building package for you. Good luck. Kevin

[flybill]

I'll be building a 12'6" Beulah soon, and use my 12'6" rainshadow as a backup rod I think. I think the new SA Skagit 500 multi-tip should work pretty well on it and I'm told it's action is like the MKS series.

The real decision is do I build my 3wt first or the 12'6"... decisions, decisions! :D

[fredaevans]

Info on Meiz's 'build your own.'

http://www.meiserflyrods.com/rodbuilder.html

[Bert Kinghorn]

I'll be building a 12'6" Beulah soon, and use my 12'6" rainshadow as a backup rod I think. ... and I'm told it's action is like the MKS series. :D

Hey, Bill. The Beulah 12'6" has a tippy action like your Forecast, but it also has a MUCH faster recovery rate. Like a MKS? No way.

Meiser sells them as part of his Extra Fast Highlander line. When properly lined I've seen it cast over 120 feet. It is a terrific rod, just don't expect it to have the stout tip and regressed butt of a MKS.

[Keith Hunter]

Fred, thanks for that link. I have been gathering information on building a winter spey rod and a couple single handers, and the Meiser article is very informative.


Charles, are you planning on turning your own cork? I have been looking at ordering the Flex Coat Cork Lathe from Madison River Fishing Co. If you are interested, we could split shipping costs on an order for cork and supplies from Mudhole. I am just down the road from you in LaConner.

[Charles Sullivan]

James,
When I looked at that web site I only saw the 12' 8/9 available as a blank. It looked as though the other rods were available but not as blanks.

Keith,

I think that I will turn my own cork, but I will probably just use one of my drills to do it. It seems like that is the easiest and cheepest way.

I have to check and see what sort of warrenty the forecast had. For the hundred bucks that I paid for the whole kit I can't imagine it is much, but if I can get a blank out of it maybe I'll build up 2 rods. Thanks for all the help guys, all your input is appreciated.
cds

[flybill]

Hey, Bill. The Beulah 12'6" has a tippy action like your Forecast, but it also has a MUCH faster recovery rate. Like a MKS? No way.

Meiser sells them as part of his Extra Fast Highlander line. When properly lined I've seen it cast over 120 feet. It is a terrific rod, just don't expect it to have the stout tip and regressed butt of a MKS.

Yeah, I found out from Ron today that it's the blank for the Highlander series... It's actually a 12'7" and Ron has a few more in the shop. Not a bad thing at all! I actually love both the Highlanders and the MKS series. Is there really a bad rod of Meiser's? IMHO no way!!

I'm hoping that the line(SA Skagit 500) I bought for my Rainshadow 12'6" will work on this rod pretty well. I plan on taking my time and turning my own handle on this blank, working on the wraps and learning some cool stuff and doing a feather inlay of some sort! I may end up getting a CND dry line for it, but I'll decide once I actually get it built.

I'm going to build my 3wt first, and hope to have that banged out pretty quick!!

Thanks for the info!
Bill :cool:

[James Mello]

Yeah, I found out from Ron today that it's the blank for the Highlander series... It's actually a 12'7" and Ron has a few more in the shop. Not a bad thing at all! I actually love both the Highlanders and the MKS series. Is there really a bad rod of Meiser's? IMHO no way!!

I'm hoping that the line(SA Skagit 500) I bought for my Rainshadow 12'6" will work on this rod pretty well. I plan on taking my time and turning my own handle on this blank, working on the wraps and learning some cool stuff and doing a feather inlay of some sort! I may end up getting a CND dry line for it, but I'll decide once I actually get it built.

I'm going to build my 3wt first, and hope to have that banged out pretty quick!!

Thanks for the info!
Bill :cool:

Currently I've had a Rio 550 on mine and it's a 'touch' slow for my tastes. I figure that loosing 50 grains may make it a bit more lively..... At any rate, the damn thing is a cannon and does throw a *really* nice loop....

[Davy]

I second the Burkie 9143-3, My dog jumped in the truck and just broke mine last time out. That is a wonderful winter rod.

Chris

yup, blame it on Topper!